Distant Relatives: New Damian Marley and Nas album (2010)

The new Nas and Damian Marley album should be celebrated, yet, listened to in full. There are many powerful tracks, such as; "Land of Promise", which samples Dennis Brown's 'Promised Land', "Dispear", where Damian rattles off various Mansions,or "branches" of the Rastafari movement, as well as "Patience", perhaps my favorite song on the album, which features a high-range vocal line that wails "Sabali" over and over, meaning "patience."

To speak more of the track "Patience", the lyrics are incredible. Damian begins saying, "Some of the smartest dummies can't read the language of Egyptian mummies." I mean, right there he has got the listener hooked and engaged. Hearing this line first, I am sure a lot of listeners in their heads are saying, "Wow. . . that's right!" I could write so much more about the words in this song, but, I will leave that up to whome ever is reading this to discover for themselves. To make a brief comment on the beat; it is reminiscent of Dubstep kind of compilation of sounds. The drop of the snare drum and ticking high-hat hits follow similar patterns to many Dubstep songs I have heard. What a fitting sound; minimal, great synth sounds in the background, and an overall feeling of darkness, yet, a light and lively feeling is emitted from the vocal line "Sabali."

Other tracks that really caught my ear were, "Dispear," "As We Enter," "Strong Will Continue," and "Friends." These tracks have incredible instrumentals and superb verses, especially from Damian Marley. The track "Count Your Blessings" is very applicable to the social times of this day. An excerpt of lyrics includes these statements, "

I've got love and assurance
I've got new health insurance
And I've got strength and endurance
So I count my blessings

And give thanks to the master
That through all the disaster
We're still here together after
Better count your blessings

I've joy in abundance
I've got life full of substance
I've got meetings and functions
So I count my blessings

I've got something to live for
I've got surplus to give more
And we're all welcome through His door
So I count my blessings  

"Count Your Blessings" is a great "feel good" track with such honesty and truth within its lyrics. In my humble opinion, Damian Marley blows Nas out of the water with his rhythmic flow and subject matter he chooses to offer to us, listeners.

Nevertheless, this album and HIGHLEY RECOMMENDED.
Amazon carries it, go figure : )

Distant Relatives: Nas and Damian Marley

Credit: Mansions of Rastafari, Lyrics